Cigar cutter



2l, 1940. A A. HAGELAUER CIGAR CUTTER Filed May l5, 1939 cutters.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to cigar More particularly the invention relates to that type of cigar cutter which is adapted to be carried in the users pocket and as the main parts thereof comprises (l) an elongated body member having a` longitudinal slideway therein and aligned holes at the sides of the slideway whereby the tip of a cigar may be brought into intersecting relation with the slideway, and (2) an elongated blade or cutter member which is slidably mounted in the slideway and embodies a handleveguipped extension at one end thereof and an angularly disposed cutting edge at its other endend is adapted when slid in one direcition by manipulation of the handle to uncover the holes for insertion therein of the tip of the cigar to be cut and when slid or shifted in the opposite direction to have its cutting edge pass by or traverse the holes and sever the tip from the remainder of the cigar.

One object of the invention is to provide a cigar cutter of this type which embodies means at one side of the body member thereof whereby it may be removably connected to a match book of the type that consists of an elongated strip of cardboard or like material with" one end thereof bent or folded inwards to form a short iiap and its `other end bent or folded inwards to form a long ap, and a comb of matches with the base portions'thereof stapled or otherwise secured to the short flap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lcigar cutter of the last mentioned character in which the means for removably connecting it toa match book consists of a wire bail which is' adapted in connecting the cutter to the book to b-e slid over the long iiap of the cardboard strip of the book and then slid along the intermediate portion of the strip into its operative position adjacent to the bend or fold for the short ap, and is pivotally connected to the body member of the cutter so that the latter together with the blade member may be swung into lapped relation with the short flap when the cutter is not in use.

A further object of the invention is rto provide a cigar cutter of lthe type and character under consideration in which the body member is formed of sheet metal and is provided.v with anv integral flap which when the cutter is in lapped relation with the short flap of the cardboard strip of the match book it is adapted to have the distal or free end of the long flap of the strip inserted between it andthe body member in or-Y der-tto secure the long nap in its closed position. A still further object of the invention isf to provide a cigar cutter which is generally of new and improved design and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present cigar cutter will be apparent from a consideration'of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specication or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a perspective showing a cigar cutter embodying the invention in connected relation with a'match book and swung away from the short ilap of the cardboard strip of the book so that it is positioned in readiness for use;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the cutter;

Figure 3 is a perspective showing the cutter in connected relation with the match book and swung into lapped relation with the short flap of thev cardboard strip of the book;

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the cutter, illustrating in detail the manner in which the wire bail serves pivotally and releasably to connect the cutter to the book;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the cutter showing the design and construction of the body and blade members; and

Figure 6 is an end View of the cutter showing the cutter in lapped relation with the short nap of the cardboard strip of the book and the manner in vwhich the integral ap of the body member serves with the body member tohold the longy flap of the book in its closed position.

The cutter which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to be used in connection with a match book B and serves to cut off the tips of cigars. The match book B is of conventional design and consists of an elongated strip b of cardboard or like thin'iiexible material and a comb'bl of matches. One end'of the strip b is bent or folded upwardly and inwardly to form a short flap b2 and the other end of the strip is similarly bent to'form along flap b3. The base portions of the matches constituting the comb b1 are secured'by a staple b4 against the inner face of the short flap b2. This'staple isr located adjacent to the bend or fold for the short flap andextends notonly through such flap but also' through the contiguous portion of the intermediate part of the cardboard strip b. The long flap b3 serves as a cover or closure for the book and is adapted when in its closed position to overlie the free head equipped ends of the matches. As its main parts the cutter comprises an elongated body member 1, an elongated blade member 8, a bail 9, and a flap I0. The body member is substantially as long as the match book B is wide and is preferably in the form of a sheet metal stamping. It consists of an outer side II and an inner side I2, and is removably connected to the match book B by the bail 9, as hereinafter described. The two sides II and I2 are connected together at one side of the body member by way of a full length bend I3 of U-shaped cross-section, and are spaced apart by this bend so that they form between them a longitudinal slideway I4. In their central portions the sides II and I2 are provided with aligned or registering holes I5. The latter are of the same diameter and permit the tip of a cigar to be cut to be brought into intersecting relation with the slideway I4. The blade member 8 is formed of steel or other suitable material and fits in the slideway I4 so that it is slidable longitudinally or lengthwise of the latter. The outer end of the blade member embodies an extension which projects beyond one end of the body member and is bent at right angles to form a handle I6 whereby the blade member may be gripped by the ngers and slid back and forth in the slideway I4. The inner end of the blade member embodies an angularly disposed cutting edge Il and is adapted when the blade member is slid outwards by manipulation of the handle I6 to uncover the holes I5 for insertion therein of the tip of the Cigar t0 be cut. When the blade member is slid inwards, the cutting edge I'I passes by or traverses the holes I5 and severs the tip from the remainder of the cigar. The handle I6 serves to limit inward sliding movement of the blade member and an upstruck protuberance I8 on the inner end of the blade member operates as a stop for limiting outward movement of the blade member. The protuberance I8 is centrally disposed between the side edges of the blade member and travels in a groove I9 in the inner face of the outer side II of the body member when the blade member is slid outwards in connection with use of the cutter. The groove I9 is formed by striking upwards the central portion of the outer side II and its outer end terminates inwardly of the adjacent end edge of the side II and forms a stop 2U for the protuberance I8. When the protuberance strikes this stop in connection with outward pull or shift of the blade member, further outward shift of such member is precluded. The bend I3 whereby the sides II and I2 are connected together is of such character that the sides are urged towards one another into firm frictional engagement with the blade member and as a result, the blade member is snugly held within the slideway and can only be shifted back or forth by the application of a slight amount of force.

The bail 9 is preferably formed of wire. It is substantially continuous and comprises an inner side piece 2|, an outer side piece 22, and a pair of U-shaped end pieces 23. The latter serve to connect together the inner and outer side pieces and hold the latter in laterally spaced relation. The inner side piece 2| ts rotatably in a tubular extension 24 at one side of the body member I and as a result the body member and bail are permitted to swing or pivot one relatively to the other. The extension 24 is formed as an integral part of the outer side II of the body member and is disposed along the side margin of the side II that is opposite or remote from the bend I3. 'Ihe bail is adapted to have the free or distal end of the long flap b3 of the match book B inserted into it and then to be slid along the long flap to the bend of the latter. After being slid to such bend, the bail is adapted to be slid around such bend and then along the intermediate portion of the strip b to the bend or fold for the short flap b2. When the bail is in such position the body member of the cutter is located adjacent to the short flap b2 and is adapted to be swung either into lapped relation with the short flap, as shown in Figure 3, or away from the short flap into what may be termed its operative posi` tion. The central portion of the outer side piece 22 of the bail is offset, as shown in Figure 2, so that it extends around and accommodates the staple b4 for securing the comb b1 of matches to the short flap b2. The end pieces 23 of the bail are so bent or angled that when the outer side piece 22 ts flatly between the base portion of the matches constituting the comb and the contiguous or adjoining portion of the intermediate part of the strip b the inner side piece 2I of the bail is laterally offset with respect to the outer side piece and the tubular extension 24 is substantially coplanar with the short flap b2. As a result of this, the body member when swung inwards into lapped relation with the short flap b2, fits atly against the latter, as shown in Figure 6. When the matches of the book B have all been used and it is desired to remove the cutter from the book, it is only necessary to open the long nap b3 and then slide the bail 9 out of engagement with the cardboard strip b.

The ap I0 overlies the inner side I2 of the body member 'I of the cutter. It is joined to and forms a part of the tubular extension 24 with the result that it is free to swing to and from the inner side I2 to a limited extent. When the body member of the cutter is in lapped relation with the short flap b2 of the match book B it is adapted to have the free or distal end of the long flap b3 inserted between it and the inner side I2, as shown in Figure 6. The outer side margin of the flap I0 projects beyond the bend I3 so as to facilitate insertion of the long nap b3 between the flap and the inner side I2 when it is desired to secure the long ap in place. The flap I 0 constitutes means for securing the long flap b3 in its closed position when the body member I of the cutter is not in use and is in lapped relation with the short flap b2 of the match book B. At one of its ends the flap I0 is provided with an integral ear 25. This ear extends inwardly at right angles and serves as a guide for the free end of the long flap b3 when such end is inserted between the flap III and the inner side I2 of the body member. It also serves as a stop whereby when the free end of the long flap b3 is between the flap I0 and the inner side I2 such end is held against lateral displacement. The central portion of the flap I5 is provided with a hole 26 and this registers with the holes I5 in the sides I I and I2 of the body member 'I of the cutter and permits the tip of the cigar to be cut to pass readily across the slideway I4. The sides II and I2 and the flap are preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal and the latter is bent or shaped to form the bend I3 and the extension 24. The extension is preferably formed by crimping and serves to hold the inner side piece 2I of the bail 9 against sidewise displacement with respect to the body member of theI cutter.

Assuming that the baills is in its proper connected positionv with the match book B, the operation of the cutter is as follows: When it is desired to cut the tip of the cigar so as to render the cigar usable for smoking, the long flap b3 of the book is swung out of its closed position and the body l of the cutter is then swung away from the short flap b2. After this step or operation the blade member 8 is slid outwards by gripping the handle I6 and pulling the latter away from the body member `'1. Thereafter the tip of the cigar is inserted through the holes l5 and 26 in order to bring it into intersecting relation with the slideway I4. As soon as the tip of the cigaris in such relation the blade member 8 is slid inwards so as to cause the cutting edge Il to sever the tip from the remainder of the cigar. If the user of the cutter desires to smoke the cigar after cutting off" the tip he may light the cigar by using one of the matches constituting the comb b1. After this the cutter is swung into lapped relation with the short flap b2 of the book B andv the long flap b3 is swung into its closed position and manipulated so as to bring the free end thereof between the iiap lll and the inner side I2 of the body member. After al1 of the matches have been used, the cutter is removed from the book B, as hereinafter described.

'I'hev herein described cutter effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost because of the simplicity of its design. It may be applied to and removed from a match book with facility and serves when not in use to secure the long flap of the book in its closed position.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. v

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. IAs a new article of manufacture, acigar cutter for use with a match book consisting of an elongated strip bent to form a back part and inan elongated strip bent to form a back part and inturned short and long flaps at the ends of the back part and a comb of matches secured to the short ap, said cutter comprising an elongated body member, a blade member movably mounted with respect to the body member, and a bail connected to one side of the body member and adapted to be slid along the long flap and the back part of the match book strip to a point adjacent to the short flap in order removably to connect the body member togetherwith the blade member to the book.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a cigar cutter for use with a match book consisting of an elongated strip bent to form a back part and inturned short and long flaps at the ends of the back part, and a comb of matches secured to the short flap, said cutter comprising an elongated body member, a coacting cigar cutting blade member movably mounted in the body member,

and a bail pivotally connected to one side of the body member and adapted to be slid along the long flap and the back part of the match book vstrip to a point adjacent to the short flap in order removably to connect the body member to the book and serving when in connected relation with the book to support the body member so that it extends parallelly to the `small flap and is free to swing to and from lapped relation with the latter.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a cigar cutter for use with a match book consisting of an elongated strip bent to form a back part and inturned short and long flaps at the ends of the back part, and a comb of matches sei cured tothe short ap, said cutter comprising an elongated body member, a coacting cigar cutting blade member movably mounted in the body member, a bail pivotally connectedv to one side of the body member and adapted to be slid along f the long flap and the back part of the match book strip to a point adjacent to the short ap in order removably to connect the body memberk to the book and serving when in connected relation with the book to support they body member so that it extends in parallel relation with the small iiap and is free to swing to andfrom lapped relation with the latter, and means carried by the body member for securing the long flap in its closed position when said body member is operatively connected to the book by said connecting means and is in lapped relation .with said short ap.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a cigar cutter adapted for association with a match book having a long flap for covering the matches thereof, and comprising a body member with coacti-ng cigar cutting means, means for removably connecting the body member to the book in such position that it is disposed adjacent to the free end of said long ap when the latter is in its closed position, and a flap .carried by the body member and adapted when the body member is in connected relation with the book to have the free end of said long flap inserted between it and the body member in order releasably to secure said long flap in its closed position.

. 6. As a new article of manufacture, a cigar cutter adapted for association with a match book having a short ap with the base portion of a comb of matches secured thereto and a long flap for covering the matches, andy comprising an elongated body member consisting of a pair of opposed slideway forming sides with holes in registry with one another in communication with the slideway for receiving the tip of a cigar, a tip cutting blade member slidably mounted in the slideway, means associated with the body member for releasably securing the latter to the book in a position adjacent to the short ap, and a resilient flap carried by the body member adjacent one of the sides of the latter and adapted .having a short flap with the base portion of a comb of matches secured thereto and a long flap for covering the matches, and comprising an elongated body member consisting of a pair of opposed slideway forming sides with holes in registry with one another in communication with the slideway for receiving the tip of a cigar, a tip cutting blade member slidably mounted in the slideway, means associated with the body member for releasably securing the latter to the book in a position adjacent to the short flap, and a ap resiliently connected to the body member at one side of the latter and covering one of the body member sides and having a tip receiving hole therein in registry with the holes in the sides, said last mentioned flap being adapted when the body member is in proper connected relation with the book to have the free end of the long ap inserted between it and said one side of the body member in order releasably to hold said long flap in its closed position.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a cigar cutter for use with a match book consisting of an elongated strip bent to form a back part and inturned short and long flaps at the ends of the back part, and a comb of matches secured to the short ap, said cutter comprising an elongated body member embodying a pair of opposed slideway forming hole equipped sides and a tubular extension at one side of the sides, an elongated cigar cutting blade member slidably mounted in the slideway, a bail having a part thereof pivotally mounted in the tubular extensions and baving another part adapted to be slid along the long `ap in the back part of the match book strip to a point adjacent to the short flap in order removably to connect the body member together with the blade member of the book, said bail serving when in its operative position to support the body member so that it is free to swing to and from lapped relation with said short flap, and a hole equipped flap connected to and resiliently supported by the extension and arranged so that it overlies one side of the body member and is adapted when the body member is in lapped relation with the short ap to have the free end of the long ap inserted between it and said one side of the body member and thus secure the long flap in its closed position.

ALFRED HAGELAUER. 

